New Westminster (October 1, 2022): New West Progressives school board candidates today announce their platform – offering a longer-term vision while addressing the districts immediate challenges with commitments to strengthen relationships, focus on students’ health and safety, and champion for improved infrastructure and resources, while considering the impact to our environment. “We have heard from students and parents, and these priorities are the product of our commitment to meaningful engagement,” says mayoral candidate, Ken Armstrong.
“We need to work together and look at the challenges of today while planning for the future,” says incumbent New West Progressive trustee and candidate, Danielle Connelly. “New West is growing and we need to put a plan together to prepare for that growth.”
Engaging and listening to both parents and students are critical. “Whether it is building new relationships, or strengthening existing relationships, we have a broad spectrum of stakeholders and partners,“ says former DPAC Chair and New West Progressives trustee candidate Kathleen Carlsen. “One important partnership is with the new Mayor and Council, so that the School Board’s challenges would receive more attention from the City as a whole.”
“Health and safety of our students is another top priority,” said New West Progressives trustee candidate Teo Dobre. “Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially after the time we have spent enduring the COVID-19 pandemic. Better physical education will benefit our students’ mental health. We must make that available for them.” In addition, the New West Progressives are advocating for more resources for timely learning assessments, expansion of the district’s healthy meal program, and tools to combat bullying and harassment while ensuring personal safety of students.
A growing community means growing demands for schools. “We need to advocate for an increase in per-student funding,” adds Connelly. “That is the only way we can improve the learning resources available to our students, such as our school libraries,” echoes Dobre.
“We also need to be mindful of our impact to our environment,” says Carlsen. “Which is why our platform addresses our commitment to show our next generation of leaders how to be environmentally responsible citizens.”
To read the New West Progressives’ School Board platform in its entirety, please visit nwprogressives.ca/platform.